A woman who has spent over a decade pursuing fertility treatment through multiple rounds of IVF has initiated a campaign to separate fertility and gynaecology appointments from maternity services in Northern Irish hospitals. The woman attended a gynaecology appointment in May at the Ulster Hospital and discovered the department was housed within the maternity unit itself. She reported that the proximity to expectant parents and families proved emotionally difficult, particularly while receiving challenging news about her fertility.
Following the appointment, the woman shared her experience online and received responses from multiple other women describing similar situations in facilities across Northern Ireland. She characterised the issue as a longstanding problem that has persisted without resolution. The matter has attracted attention from political representatives, including a Sinn Féin assembly member who has also undergone fertility treatment. The assembly member acknowledged that heightened emotional sensitivity during fertility challenges can make proximity to maternity services particularly painful for patients.
An independent assembly member has supported calls for service separation, arguing that the current configuration adds unnecessary trauma for women and that healthcare design should prioritise emotional support alongside clinical care. She noted that reconfiguring services would require additional resources but described the change as necessary for patient welfare. When contacted, five regional health trusts provided varying responses regarding their current service arrangements. Two trusts reported operating fertility services from dedicated facilities with separate entrances or standalone clinics, while three others acknowledged that proximity to maternity services can be difficult for some patients and indicated they are exploring improvements to address these concerns. The South Eastern Trust, which operates the Ulster Hospital facility in question, stated it hopes to relocate outpatient gynaecology services from the maternity unit in the coming months.
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